Learning:
* Mechanism: Involves acquiring new knowledge, skills, or behaviors through experience. This experience can be direct (e.g., trial-and-error) or indirect (e.g., observation, instruction). It's a relatively permanent change in behavior resulting from specific experiences.
* Source: External stimuli and experiences shape behavior. The environment plays a crucial role.
* Timing: Can occur at any point in life, though the rate and capacity for learning may vary across the lifespan.
* Example: Learning to ride a bicycle, learning a new language, learning to solve a math problem.
Maturation:
* Mechanism: Involves naturally occurring changes in behavior or abilities due to biological factors such as genetic programming and physiological development. It's a pre-programmed unfolding of developmental potentials.
* Source: Internally driven by biological processes; the environment influences it but doesn't directly *cause* the changes.
* Timing: Typically follows a predetermined sequence and timeline, although environmental factors can influence the pace. It’s largely influenced by genetics and mostly occurs in a predictable order.
* Example: A child's growth in height and weight, the development of motor skills (crawling, walking), puberty.
Key Differences Summarized:
| Feature | Learning | Maturation |
|----------------|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Mechanism | Experience-based change | Genetically programmed unfolding |
| Source | External (environment) | Internal (biological factors) |
| Timing | Any point in life, variable | Predetermined sequence, relatively fixed timing |
| Dependence | Dependent on experience and practice | Relatively independent of experience |
It's important to note that learning and maturation often interact. For instance, a child's maturation of the nervous system is necessary for them to learn complex motor skills. Similarly, environmental experiences can influence the rate and extent of maturation. However, they remain distinct processes with different underlying causes.